It seems (I haven't opened my case in a long time) that some vigorous moving around of cables inside my case one day dislodged one of the Gelid Icy Vision's fans (video card cooler) from the heatsink, and so it was unable to spin. Being unable to spin, the heat from the heatsink eventually managed to evaporate a bit of the oil inside the bearings, and now it doesn't spin as freely as the one on the left. Also I can't get it to spin without being slightly tilted at some point which I can't determine. As proof, when I tilt the case at a certain angle, the fan dislodges itself automatically from the hub when it's spinning.

Because it isn't balanced (or not as well oiled anymore), it makes this slight buzzing sound... and that is NOT what I bought a custom video card cooler for. I tried to remove the fan, but the short cable that's fixed to the heatsink by a clamp isn't giving me enough leeway to do anything. Is there anything I can do aside from buying a new heatsink? I really don't want to do that - it still keeps the temps down admirably.

EDIT: I still have the stock GTX470 cooler that it came with - it might give me better temps now that I've put the proper amount of thermal grease on the chip, but still, it's a waste of the Icy Vision that I bought if I put it on.

I can't find the receipt, though I bought it online, so I got an email receipt. I hope that works too? One can just return it for being not true+less well oiled than you'd want?It wasn't quite easy finding a Gelid here in Germany either, but normally you'd go to the online retailer who sold you the product right.EDIT: Another concern with sending it back for warranty are the heatsinks on the RAM and VRMs. Those are stuck on with 3M double sided adhesive, and I have no clue how to get those off so I can put the stock cooler back on/ship the Icy Vision off for warranty.

I've done a 3850 and a 4850 so far and it is easy, if a bit time consuming.

Just take the thing apart, keep track of the screws and get to the fan.

With the fan out, there is usually a sticker that covers the bearing which I'll peel back 1/2 way andwith 90wt oil, use a twist tie and place 2 drops on the fan, spin it manually a bit so it works it'sway back into the bearing and reassemble.

With both cards, the saving grace is the fan sits upside-down and inside the shroud of the H/S,so if over oiled, no big deal (sorta, just sling oil inside the shroud...hence 2 drops of bar-and-chainoil for chainsaws).